A reception at Gracie Mansion for the Greek-American community set for Thursday in advance of the group’s annual parade has stirred controversy after senior Adams administration officials revoked an award for one of the honorees at the last minute. On March 7, Mayor Adams’ office notified Astori a, Queens businessman Gus Lambropoulos, a recent candidate for state Senate, that he would be one of four honorees at the reception for his many years of community service. The vetting had lasted about a month. Five days later, on March 12, after Lambropoulos had invited friends from other parts of the country to see him honored, Adams administration officials told him he wouldn’t be honored, the Daily News has learned. Lambropoulos’ wife, Maria Markou, a lawyer and district leader in Astoria, was steamed. “This is just another example of reckless judgment by the mayor’s administration in taking back an award from a worthy NYC citizen,” she said. Markou estimated the couple’s friends had spent some $7,500 to travel to the event. Markou believes there were politics at play. She thinks City Hall changed course because they were aware she and other district leaders in Queens are planning next week to endorse ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s 2025 mayoral primary challenge against Adams. “To congratulate, give it, and then take it back is a complete disrespect and a slap to our beloved Greek-American community,” she said. But Kayla Mamelak, a spokeswoman for Adams, said Lambropoulos was removed from the list after officials realized Markou had been honored at a similar Heritage event two years ago. “When it comes to heritage events, we do one award per household, so that we can recognize as many community members as possible. And his wife had received a similar award,” Mamelak said. Markou said that’s surprising, given City Hall knew from the start the couple was married. The pair are both well known in the community. “If there was a policy as they allege last minute, why did they do the vetting process, my husband passes it and they congratulate him and ask for the list of guests?” she said. “This does not make sense. I believe this is politically motivated by Eric Adam’s side.” The other honorees include Margo Vondersaar Catsimatidis, the wife of billionaire supermarket mogul John Catsimatidis, a major player in city politics who’s close to both Adams and Cuomo. On Feb. 27, Catsimatidis donated $20,000 as a sponsor of the parade and is listed as a chairman emeritus. He told The News on Monday that he’s also a sponsor of this week’s Gracie Mansion event and plans to help pay for food and other “extra costs” associated with it. He wouldn’t immediately comment on his wife’s expected award or Markou’s accusations. He was also a sponsor of the same annual Hellenic event at Gracie Mansion in 2024. Catsimatidis is a high-dollar political donor close to President Trump and has a radio show that is influential in conservative circles. The mogul has been a backer of the mayor, but has recently shown signs of warming up to Cuomo. He had Cuomo on his radio show on March 9. A Cuomo spokesman declined comment Monday. Lambropoulos said he first learned he would be an honoree in early February as long as he passed a background check. He submitted his date of birth, bio and resume to City Hall for vetting. He works as a business consultant on real estate projects and describes himself as a 9/11 survivor and a two-time cancer survivor. He lost his bid for the state Senate last year in the democratic primary to Kristen Gonzalez. On March 7, Ido Shargal, senior advisor of the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit, wrote to Lambropoulos to introduce him to Jayson Littman, director of events and protocol for the mayor’s office. “Jayson has informed me you passed vetting,” Shargal wrote, according to emails obtained by the Daily News. Littman then wrote in an email to Lambropoulos, “Congratulations on your honor!” Littman went on to write honorees are approved for six guests and asked for their contact info. “Thank you so much,” Lambropoulos replied, copying Shargal. “My family will attend and are incredibly excited and humbly honored to be a part of this event.” Five days later, Lambropoulos got a call from Valerie Vasquez, the Deputy Commissioner of Community Affairs. “She says, ‘I hate to be the bearer of bad news but your wife got the award two years ago,’” Lambropoulos said. “I had just told 100 people from all over to come.” Lambropoulos appealed to Fred Kreizman, Adams’ Commissioner of Community Affairs. “He just said, ‘It is what it is,'” Lambropoulos said. In a text message to Lambropoulos provided to The News, Kreizman wrote, “(Your) wife received an award at this event two years ago and they didn’t realize that. It was a week too late but people failed in due diligence.” Littman offered to still allow his guests to attend the event. But Lambropoulos remains unsatisfied. “It’s just another way they are lacking responsibility and ownership for what they do,” he said. “How would the mayor feel if someone did that to him?” ...read more read less